VR Developer FAQ

Program Overview

Why should I enroll in the VR Developer Nanodegree program?

Virtual Reality (VR) developer job openings are up 800% year-over-year. Demand for skilled VR developers and designers who can create high-quality content is growing at an unprecedented rate. The goal of this program is to equip you with the skills and experience you’ll need to take advantage of all this incredible opportunity. If you’re ready to start creating memorable and compelling experiences using the very latest virtual reality technologies, then this is the program for you!

What kinds of topics will the program cover?

As a student of this program, you’ll master the core principles and foundations of virtual reality, develop and refine a keen sense for great VR design, and build performant and comfortable VR experiences as you become familiar with the most important SDKs and APIs of the major platforms, including PC and mobile.

How are you developing the curriculum, and who are your partners?

Udacity is developing the VR Developer Nanodegree program in close partnership with leading experts in the virtual reality industry, including Unity, Samsung, HTC, Google, and Epic.

Does this program have hiring partnerships associated with it?

Yes! We are thrilled to have a number of leading-edge companies as hiring partners, who will fast track Udacity graduates for job consideration at their companies: Samsung, Nod, and Lucid.

What jobs will this program prepare me for?

We believe that VR will power transformative change across a number of industries. Graduates of this program will be valuable additions to any team working in the domains of gaming, web development, app development, social media, film, e-commerce, and marketing. Opportunities also exist in healthcare, architecture, finance, retail, media, advertising, education, and more.

Students who choose the High-Immersion Unity or High-Immersion Unreal specialization will need access to:

VR-ready PC (Intel i5 or greater, high-end graphics card)

HTC Vive or Oculus Rift

Can I use my Gear/Vive/Rift/Hololens for this class?

Although your HMD may work with the course material, we require you to use Google Cardboard and the associated SDK for projects and coursework. Feel free to use other HMDs to enhance your learning. But, all work must be submitted for Google Cardboard.

Will you offer training in Vive or Rift development?

Yes. While the course initially starts with Google Cardboard development, we do have high-immersion VR courses that cover that material.

Which high end graphics card do I need for the High-Immersion Specialization?

What frameworks/languages/technologies will this program teach?

The VR Developer Nanodegree program offers a core curriculum in Unity. Once the core curriculum is complete, you can choose from multiple specializations to complete your VR Developer Nanodegree program. In the first two terms, we'll give you a great start with Unity using C#. Then, each specialization uses different technologies. For example High-Immersion Unreal will use Blueprints (graph-based and visual) instead of C++ programming.

Will this course be more focused on design or on development?

You will learn both VR design and development. To create successful virtual reality software, you'll need to master both.

I'm an advanced developer, will I learn anything?

Yes! As an advanced developer, you have the option to enter the program at Term 2, where you'll focus on design best practices, en route to selecting your specialization for Term 3.

I'm already enrolled in the VR Developer Nanodegree program. Am I eligible for this promotion?

If you are currently enrolled in the Virtual Reality Developer Nanodegree program, and interested in this promotion, please email us at support@udacity.com to discuss eligibility options.

I am currently enrolled in another Nanodegree program. Can I enroll in the VR Developer Nanodegree program, and be eligible for this promotion?

You are eligible for the promotion if:

You enroll in the VR Developer Nanodegree program within the promotion dates,

You complete the first (5) projects of the Nanodegree program, and

You reside within the United States or China.

Your enrollment in another Nanodegree program does not impact your eligibility for this program.

Tuition / Payment

How much does the VR Nanodegree program cost?

The full program consists of three(3) two-month long Terms at a cost of $400 for each Term, for a total program cost of $1200. If you start the Nanodegree program at the Term 2 level, then the total program cost is $800. When you enroll, you’ll self-select your starting point as either Term 1 or Term 2, depending on your current skills and experience. If you’re new to Unity, you’ll select Term 1. If you have a working knowledge of Unity as a game developer or digital storyteller, you’ll select Term 2. All students will ultimately advance to Term 3.

Is there a free trial period for this program?

There is no free trial period for this program, but there is a 7-day refund guarantee in place at the beginning of each Term.

Who is eligible for the 50% tuition refund offer?

VR Nanodegree program graduates are not eligible to receive this tuition refund upon completion of their studies. VR Nanodegree students who enrolled in the subscription version of the Nanodegree program before February 7, 2017, may be eligible for the 50% back.

Are there scholarships or financial aid available?

We do not currently offer scholarships for the VR Developer Nanodegree program but we are always looking for partnership opportunities for scholarship development, so please check back often!

Program Structure

How is this Nanodegree program structured?

The VR Developer Nanodegree program is comprised of three (3) Terms of two (2) months each. Each Term has fixed start and end dates. When you enroll, you’ll self-select your starting point as either Term 1 or Term 2, depending on your current skills and experience. If you’re new to Unity, you’ll select Term 1. If you have a working knowledge of Unity as a game developer or digital storyteller, you’ll select Term 2. All students will ultimately advance to Term 3.

Students must successfully complete Term 3 to graduate. There are 3-4 projects per term, which give you an opportunity to apply the skills you’ve learned in the lessons. Each project will be reviewed by one of the expert project reviewers in the Udacity reviewer network. Your reviewer will give you detailed feedback on your work and let you know where your project needs improvement if necessary. If you do not pass the project, you will be asked to submit again until you pass in order to successfully complete the term.

Do you offer the opportunity for students to pause their studies for this program?

No. The fixed-term nature of the VR Developer Nanodegree program, and the need for maintaining a consistent and stable student body throughout, doesn’t allow for offering the option to pause your studies.

Is this program self-paced?

No. The start and end dates of each Term are fixed, and you must complete all assigned projects by the end dates. You must complete the program within a fixed time period. However, projects may be submitted at any time during a Term, and individual project deadlines are recommendations, not requirements. So within a Term, there is some opportunity to work at your own pace. But you should plan to follow our recommended timeline, as this will best enable you to keep pace with your peers, and complete the program on time.